SwayBlog

BooksReviewWhat’s the secret behind raising seven classical music prodigies? A mother’s account Families in Britain comprise on average two children and no prodigies; few, if any, bear resemblance to the Kanneh-Masons. This exceptional household includes seven children, all of whom are prodigiously gifted in classical music, and whose virtuosity was on display last year in a recital of Monti’s Czárdás at the Royal Variety Performance. How their parents, Kadiatu and Stuart, raised such an awe-inspiring team of musicians is explored by Kadiatu in House of Music, a memoir that both candidly portrays and fiercely protects her brood.

Sexual healingSexThis is nothing to worry about, just another aspect of your sexuality, and one that reflects the nature of most sexually charged material in our societyI'm a 56-year-old woman in a heterosexual relationship who loves looking at young, beautiful women. I find myself looking at images of actors and models in provocative poses and becoming very aroused. My partner laughs at me and says I'm bisexual, but I have no strong desire to sleep with a woman.

Spaghettini col piselli – fine spaghetti with peas Photograph: Romas Foord for Observer Food MontlyView image in fullscreenSpaghettini col piselli – fine spaghetti with peas Photograph: Romas Foord for Observer Food MontlyClassic cookbookFoodIn the second of our series celebrating vintage books from our kitchen shelves, Jeremy Lee shares his love for Honey From a Weed It was 1986. I had not long arrived in London but regularly visited the fine emporium Books For Cooks in Notting Hill.

US news This article is more than 9 years oldReynolds High School graduation remembers shooting victimThis article is more than 9 years old Oregon school holds minute's silence for Emilio Hoffman Brother wears soccer shirt as teacher grazed by bullet looks on The graduating senior class of Oregon's Reynolds High School held a moment of silence on Thursday for freshman Emilio Hoffman, who was shot and killed on campus earlier this week.

Saul BellowZachary Leader, Bellow’s biographer, selects five must-reads by the great American author The Adventures of Augie March (1953) This is the novel in which Bellow found his voice. Augie, its picaresque hero, declares himself “a Columbus of those near-at-hand”, by which he means a discoverer of new fictional territory, since he himself narrates his adventures. The “reality instructors” and “Machiavellis of small street and neighbourhood” that Augie delights in portraying, most of them Jewish, come from Bellow’s childhood and youth in immigrant Chicago.

Donald TrumpTrump returns to court for new E Jean Carroll trial – and it could prove costlyEx-president can’t dispute facts of case – that he sexually assaulted former Elle writer – so trial will focus on scale of any damages After the former US president last week faced the prospect of a $370m fine and potential collapse of his real estate empire in New York state court, he will now contend with yet another costly legal battle in Manhattan: a defamation case brought by a woman who, according to a jury of her peers, was sexually abused by him.

Tennessee This article is more than 5 months oldUS student sues over suspension for posting memes making fun of principalThis article is more than 5 months oldTennessee student, 17, and advocates call the punishment a violation of the first amendment A Tennessee student is suing his school district after he was suspended for posting memes making fun of his principal. The 17-year-old student shared three memes that he made and published online with the principal’s face cut out on different backgrounds.

OpinionAustralian politics This article is more than 2 years oldWomen are scared to enter politics because of their past. I was one of themThis article is more than 2 years oldGeorgie PurcellAlmost 10 years ago, I worked as a topless waitress. I never realised the profound impact those few months would have on my entire life If we’ve learned anything over the past few weeks, it’s that we need more women in politics, not less.

Roger Hiorns This article is more than 10 years oldArtist Roger Hiorns fills Wakefield warehouse with naked young menThis article is more than 10 years oldHepworth Wakefield's new Calder space is given over to Youth series featuring nude men sitting on found objectsIn a rough-hewn, concrete-floored warehouse, once a factory making worsted blankets for the military, a young man is pulling his trousers down. There's a handful of other people in the looming, 600-square-metre space, most so deep in conversation they have not noticed the discreet downward slide of fabric and the abrupt revelation of a pair of pale buttocks.